Marking machine attachment



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. c/OhW L Hams/=51? 6'15)? Al'fO/P/V) J VHAUNSPERGER MARKING MACHINE ATTACHMENT June 6, 1961 Filed April 21, 1960June 6, 1961 Filed April 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 3a 34 [J I M WF 16' 4 4 7 12 23 22 3a INVENTOR.

30 24 14 39 (Ja/m/L HAUMSPERGf/P ATTORNEY United States Patent i2,986,994 MARKING MACHINE ATTACHMENT John V. Haunsperger, Cedar Rapids,Iowa, assignor to Lefebure Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, acorporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 23,822 6 Claims.(Cl. 101-101) The present invention pertains to marking machines,particularly to an operating attachment for certain types, hereafterdescribed, of normally hand-operated marking machines.

A well-known variety of marking machine, of the comparatively small,hand-operated type, employs basically an upright inverted U-shaped frameand a marking head vertically movable between the upright frame membersby means of a hand-operated plunger atop the horizontal portion of theframe. The marking head itself usually comprises a series of coaxialdials, each carrying numers, letters or other symbols embossed about itsouter periphery. The dials are individually rotatable by wellknown meansso as to permit alignment of a selection of symbols, one from each dial,at the bottom of the head, whereby after being inked the selection canbe moved by a downward stroke of the plunger against a spring intocontact with whatever is placed beneath the head to be marked.

In the type of these machines with which the present invention isconcerned the inking is achieved by an ink saturated pad disposed andoperated so that when the plunger is at the top of its stroke the padbears against the selection of symbols then in marking position upon thehead. When the latter is moved downwards by the plunger, an appropriatelinkage swings the pad to one side out of the way of the descendinghead. Since the pad is in contact with the symbols on the dials when theplunger is at the top of its stroke, rotation of the dials to change thesettings thereof causes them to rub on the pad, which, if permitted forlong, will shortly wear it out. For this reason it is usuallyrecommended, if not required, for long life of the ink pad, to push downslightly on the plunger in order to swing the pad a little away from thehead so that the dials can be rotatedwithout injury to the pad. This isnot particularly inconvenient if only sporadic use is made of themachine; however, if substantial or prolonged use is required, holdingdown the plunger slightly for each change of setting of the dialsbecomes very onerous and greatly impairs the efficiency and speed of theoperator.

The present invention is thus directed to an attachment which not onlysupports the machine rigidly upright upon a base but automaticallywithholds contact between the dials and the ink pad at the end of eachoperation so that changes in setting can easily and speedily be made bythe operator. Contact is then withheld until the machine is put intooperation for the next imprinting. This result is achieved essentiallyby a vertically extending bracket attached to the plunger and movabletherewith and a sear which on the return stroke of the plunger engages alip on the bracket to prevent completion of the return stroke, thusavoiding contact between the dials and the ink pad. A hand crank, havinga dog rotatable with the shaft portion thereof, engages the sear whenthe crank is rotated and releases the bracket so that the head cancomplete its return stroke and the ink pad contact the dials. Continuedrotation of the crank then causes a cam, also rotatable with the shaftportion of the crank, to engage the bracket and impart a downward stroketo it and the plunger. A suitable spring or other means then returns thecrank, thus permitting return of the plunger until it is once againarrested by the sear.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present inven tion is theprovision of an attachment for a hand operated marking machine of thetype described which prevents contact between the ink pad and themarking head, in order to permit individual adjustment of thesymbolcarrying dials thereof, until the machine is operated to move thehead into marking contact.

A further object is the provision of an attachment for machines of thetype described which automatically arrests the return stroke of themarking head, thence operates first to release the marking head,permitting contact between the ink pad and the marking symbols on thedial, and finally moves the head into marking contact.

An additional object of the present invention is an attachment formachines of the type described employing a sear to arrest the returnmovement of the marking head and a hand crank operated dog and cam whichcooperate first to release the sear and then, after the head hascompleted its return movement, to move the head into marking contact.

Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from thedescription of the preferred form thereof 'which follows, read inconjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective, rear quarter view showing the attachment asapplied to a standard type of hand operated marking machine;

FIGURE 2 is a section view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showingthe relative positions of the machine and the attachment at one stage ofits operation;

FIGURE 3 is a view like that of FIGURE 2 but showing the machine and theattachment at a further stage of its operation; and

FIGURE 4 is a view like FIGURE 2 but showing the machine and attachmentat a still further stage of its operation.

In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, reference is madeto the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings anddetailed descriptive language is employed. It will, nevertheless, benoted that no limitation of the invention is thereby intended and thatvarious changes and alterations are contemplated such as wouldordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

Turning now to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designatesgenerally a marking machine of the type for which the present inventionis designed. Machine 10 is composed essentially of an upright inverted Ushaped frame 11 between which is a vertically movable marking head 12having a row of dials 13 coaxially mounted at 14 and carrying symbolsembossed upon their peripheries. Dials 13 each have an adjacent coaxialgear portion which is engaged by a row of correspondingly positionedsector gears (not shown) coaxially mounted on shaft 15. The sector gearsare rotated to set dials 13 by means of fingers '16 which protrudethrough varcuate slots 17 in escutcheon 18. The latter is engraved atthe side of each slot 17 with a column of numbers or other symbolscorresponding with those on dials 13 when in marking alignment at thebottom of the head. Head 12 is carried at the lower end of a plunger 19vertically movable through the horizontal portion of frame 11 and isbiased toward its upper position by a compressible helical spring 20encompassing plunger 19 between frame 11 and a hand knob (not shown)which is usually stop plunger 19. Herein the uppermost position ofplunger 19 and head 12 will be referred to as their initial position andtheir downward and upward movements as their printing stroke and theirreturn stroke, respectively.

Ink pad 21 or similar means is carried between the upright side membersof frame 11 by means of two pairs of identical linkages at each end,each pair having an arm 2-2 rigidly secured to pad 21 at its forwardedge and extending laterally therefrom to be pivoted to the inner faceof frame 111 at 23 and a link 24 pivoted both to pad 21 at 25 and to theend plates of head 12 at 14. Appropriately arranged, this linkage causespad 21 to be pressed into contact with dials 13 when head 12 and plunger19 are at their initial position (see FIG- URE 3) and to be swung to oneside out of the path of head 12 as the latter descends on its printingstroke (see FIGURE 4).

The attachment itself comprises a pair of horizontal mounting blocks 30having crank bosses 31 at their rearward ends and steps 32 cut in theirlower surfaces commencing just forward of bosses 31. The under surfacesof the latter in turn are secured to base plate 33 so that blocks 30 areparallel to each other and spaced to receive the lower ends of frame 11secured flush with steps 32 in rabbets in the inner faces of blocks 30at their forward ends. A bracket 34 is provided having a tongue 35which, after the removal of the operating knob (not shown) atop plunger19, fits over the latter and is rigidly secured thereto. Bracket 34extends vertically down the back of frame 11 and head 12 and is providedits other end with a flat surfaced arm 36 extending rearwardly tobetween bosses 31 and sufliciently above base 33, when plunger 19 is inits initial position, so that arm 36 does not impede the printing strokeof head 12. The rear end of arm 36 is formed into an upwardly inclinedlip 37 which is engageable with a downwardly inclined lip of sear 38journaled at its midpoint on a shaft 39 extending between the rear endsof blocks 30 and to the rear of the vertical path of lip 37. Thepositions of lip 37 and sear 38 are also so related that the latterextends forwardly and upwardly to engage the former and arrest thereturn stroke of head 12 before pad 21 contacts dials 13. The other endof sear 38 is received within one end of a compressible coil spring 40,the other end of which is seated in base 33.

A cam 41 having upper and lower flanks is fixed to the shaft portion 42of operating crank 43 journaled in bosses 31 above sear 38. Cam 41 islocated on shaft 42 so that its flanks extend radially therefromsufiicient for the lower one to engage arm 36, when crank 43 is rotatedin direction A (FIGURE 1) and impart a complete printing stroke to head12. A rearwardly extending tang 44 is arranged on bracket 34 above andspaced from arm 36 to be contact by the upper flank of cam 41, whencrank 43 is rotated in direction B (FIGURE 1), throughout the completereturn stroke of head 12. A helical spring 45 encompasses shaft 42 andis secured in torsion to cam 41 and one of bosses 31 so that it biasescam 41 against tang 44. Integral with cam 41 is a dog 46, inclineddownwardly from shaft 42 just forward of scar 38 when the latter isengaged with lip 37, so that rotation thereof in direction A by crank 43engages nose 47 on sear 38 to release arm 36 before further rotation ofcrank 43 in the same direction causes the lower flank of cam 41 tocontact and move head 12 downwards.

The operation of the attachment in conjunction with marking machine willbe largely apparent from the preceding description so that only a briefresum is required. Beginning with position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 withthe return stroke of plunger 19 arrested by engagement of lip 37 andsear 38, it will be seen that accordingly ink pad 21 is withheldslightly from contact with dials 13, thus permitting the latter freelyto be reset by the operator by means of fingers 16. As the operator thenrotates crank 43 in direction A, dog 46 disengages sear 38 from lip 37,whereupon spring 20 causes plunger 19 to complete its return movementand ink pad 2 1 to contact dials 13. Continued movement of crank 43 indirection A brings the lower flank of cam 41 into con- 19 downwards tobring head 12 into printing contact with whatever item is positionedbeneath the latter in steps 32. Upon completion of the printing stroke,crank 43 is released causing spring 45 to rotate crank 43 in directionB, thus engaging the upper flank of cam 41 with tank 44, whereupon head12 moves upward until its return is arrested again by engagement .of lip37 with sear 3B, the latter, owing to spring 40 having returned afterpassage of dog 46 thereover to intersect the vertical path lip 37, Themachine is then ready for a further setting of dials 13 and anotherprinting stroke.

I claim:

1. An attachment for use with a marking machine of the kind having amarking head including a plurality of individually adjustable memberseach carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individualadjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capableof marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head havingpredetermined movements operative to cause said head and selectionthereon to move toward and mark said material and then to returntherefrom, and pad means operatively associated with said first means tocontact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the endof its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable tosaid machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material tobe marked, means to arrest the complete return movement of said head,said means including an arresting lip member attachable to and movablewith said head and a scar on said mount adapted both to engage said lipmember during return movement of said head to prevent full completionthereof and then to be disengageable from said lip member to allowcompletion of said return movement, and means carried by said mount andoperable first to disengage said sear and lip member and then to impartsaid marking movement to said head after the latter has completed itsreturn movement.

2. An attachment for use with a marking machine of the kind having amarking head including a plurality of individually adjustable memberseach carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individualadjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capableof marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head havingpredetermined movements operative to cause said head and selectionthereon to move toward and mark said material and then to returntherefrom, and pad means operatively associated with said first means tocontact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at the endof its return movement, said attachment comprising a mount securable tosaid machine to maintain it in operable position relative to material tobe marked, means to arrest the complete return movement of said head,said means including an arresting lip member attachable to and movablewith said head and a sear on said mount adapted both to engage said lipmember during return movement of said head to prevent full completionthereof and then to be disengageable from said lip member to allowcompletion of said return movement, a release dog adapted to cause saiddisengagement of said sear and lip member, and means carried by saidmount and operable first to operate said dog as aforesaid and thentoimpart said marking movement to said head after the latter has completedits return movement.

3. An attachment for use with a marking machine of the kind having amarking head including a plurality of individually adjustable memberseach carrying marking elements positioned thereon so that individualadjustment of said members will provide a selection of elements capableof marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said head havingpredetermined movements operative to cause said head and selectionthereon to move toward and mark said material and then to return there-.

' from, and pad means operativelyassociated with said head to contactand ink said selection of elements when tact with arm 36, moving it,bracket 34 and plunger said head is at the end of its return movement,said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machine to maintainit in operable position relative to material to be marked, means toarrest the complete return movement of said head, said means includingan arresting lip member attachable to and movable with said head and ascar journaled on said mount and adapted both to engage said lip memberduring return movement of said head to prevent full completion thereofand then to be disengageable from said lip member to allow completion ofsaid return movement, a release dog journaled on said mount androtatable to cause said disengagement of said seat and lip member, andmeans to operate said dog as aforesaid and then to impart said markingmovement to said head after the latter has completed its returnmovement, said means including an operating arm attachable for movementwith said head, said arm extending in a transverse direction withrespect to the direction of said movements of said head, and a camjournaled on said mount and rotatable with said dog having a flankadapted to engage said arm to import said movement thereto after saidhead has completed its return movement.

4. An attachment for use with a hand operated marking machine of thekind having a marking head including a plurality of individuallyadjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon sothat individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection ofelements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith,said head being hand operated and having predetermined movementsoperative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward andmark said material and then to return therefrom, and pad meansoperatively associated with said first means to contact and ink saidselection of elements when said head is at the end of its returnmovement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machineto maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked,means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, and handoperated means operable first to release said arresting means and thento impart said marking movement to said head after the latter hascompleted its return movement, said means including a hand crank havingits shaft portion journaled on said mount and a cam mounted on saidshaft and rotatable therewith, said cam having a flank operablyassociated with said head to impart said marking movement thereto.

5. An attachment for use with a hand operated marking machine of thekind having a marking head including a plurality of individuallyadjustable members each carrying marking elements positioned thereon sothat individual adjustment of said members will provide a selection ofelements capable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith,said head being hand operated and having predetermined movementsoperative to cause said head and selection thereon to move toward andmark said material and then to return therefrom, and pad meansoperatively associated with said first means to contact and ink saidselection of elements when said head is at the end of its returnmovement, said attachment comprising a mount securable to said machineto maintain it in operable position relative to material to be marked;means to arrest the complete return movement of said head, and handoperated means operable first to release said arresting means and thento impart said marking movement to said head after the latter hascompleted its return movement,

said means including an operating arm attachable to said head formovement therewith, said arm extending in a transverse direction withrespect to the direction of said movements of said head, a hand crankhaving its shaft portion journaled on said mount, and a cam mounted onsaid shaft and rotatable therewith, said cam having a flank adapted toengage said arm to impart said movement thereto after said head hascompleted its return movement.

6. An attachment for use with a hand-operated marking machine of thekind having a marking head movable with respect to a U-shaped stationaryframe, said head including a plurality of adjacent coaxial dials eachindividually rotatable about their common axis and carrying around itsperiphery marking elements positioned thereon so that individualrotation of said dials will provide an aligned selection of elementscapable of marking material by simultaneous contact therewith, said headand frame having predetermined movements operative to cause said headand selection thereon to move toward and mark said material and then toreturn therefrom, a plunger movable with said head and with respect tosaid frame, and an ink pad operatively associated with said first meansto contact and ink said selection of elements when said head is at theend of its return movement, said attachment comprising a pair ofmounting blocks securable one to each side of said frame to concurrentlyextend therefrom in spaced relation to each other in order to maintainsaid machine in operable position relative to material to be marked, anoperating bracket attachable to said plunger for said movementstherewith, said bracket having extending concurrently therefrom in atransverse direction with respect to the movement thereof a return tangand an operating arm spaced therefrom, said tang and arm having opposedoperating surfaces extending thereon transversely with respect to themovement of said bracket and said arm having an arresting lip at itsextremity, an arresting sear journaled between said blocks and adaptedto engage said lip and arrest said plunger and bracket before the latterhave completed their return movement, said sear being biased toward itsengaged position and movable to disengage said lip and permit completionof said return movement of said plunger and bracket, a hand crank havinga release dog secured to its shaft portion and rotatable therewith, saiddog being adapted, when said sear is engaged with said lip, to causesaid disengagement thereof when said crank is rotated in one direction,a cam integral with said dog and rotatable therewith having oppositeoutwardly facing flanks extending from said shaft to between said tangand arm, one of said flanks being engageable with said surface of saidtang throughout the entire return movement of said plunger and the otherof said flanks being adapted to engage said surface of said arm toimpart said marking movement to said plunger after both said dog hasdisengaged said sear and lip and said plunger and head have completedtheir return movement, said sear and crank being journaled between saidblocks, and means urging rotatable movement of said crank in the otherdirection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS960,029 Merrick May 31, 1910

